One
of two new highway signs that memorialize one of Sedalia’s most famous
musical residents was unveiled Saturday morning at the Hayden Liberty
Center Association for the Arts, 111 W. 5th.
The new Scott Joplin Memorial Highway sign, which measures 3 x 6
feet, will be installed sometime Monday, according to Terri Ballard,
LCAA executive director. “Raising that (much money) over two days during
the festival speaks volumes about how the people who come to the Joplin
festival support our mission and attend everything we do,” Ballard said
just prior to the unveiling.
The cost of the two signs ($2,400) was raised over a two-day period,
according to Sedalia Mayor Stephen J. Galliher, who spoke at the brief
unveiling ceremony. Scott Joplin Festival Board Member Kathleen Boswell
explained that the bulk of the money came from two donors — Larry Karp
and David Almquist. Larry Karp was an author who has written about the
life of Joplin, and David Almquist is Nevin Almquist’s brother. Nevin
also serves on the Joplin board.Karp, who wrote The Ragtime Kid: A Ragtime Mystery, died Oct. 21.
Mayor Galliher noted that Sedalia has been home to a lot of famous
people. “Sedalia’s a place to be proud of, and I’m very proud of the
folks who live here, because they always step up the plate when
something’s needed, they’re there,” Galliher said. “It’s a great place
to live.”
Galliher went on to explain the story behind the signs to KSIS. “It’s
been several months since Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff, District
153) came by my office and was talking about the Leroy Van Dyke Highway
(proposal), because he’s a country music fan, and he asked me if I would
support that, and I said well sure. and then I asked him about Scott
Joplin,” Galliher recalled. “So he went back, wrote a piece of
legislation, and then we went and testified on it at a hearing (in Jeff
City) and the bill passed and we’re here today because of that.”
The Mayor also credited Rep. Nathan Beard for his co-sponsorship of
the bill. “He was a big part of it,” he said, “without those two, it
wouldn’t be possible.” The VanDyke sign project is about $1,000 short at
this point, he added. “We’ll get a little more money raised an we’ll
have a ceremony for them.”
Ragtime festival regular performer Jeff Barnhart and his wife Ann
attended the ceremony and reception. He played an impromptu number on
the piano in the Liberty Center lobby, entertaining those in attendance
with “Maple Leaf Rag.” Later, he seemed extremely pleased by the
exposure the signs will bring to Joplin’s legacy.

One
of two new highway signs that memorialize one of Sedalia’s most famous
musical residents was unveiled Saturday morning at the Hayden Liberty
Center Association for the Arts, 111 W. 5th.
The new Scott Joplin Memorial Highway sign, which measures 3 x 6
feet, will be installed sometime Monday, according to Terri Ballard,
LCAA executive director. “Raising that (much money) over two days during
the festival speaks volumes about how the people who come to the Joplin
festival support our mission and attend everything we do,” Ballard said
just prior to the unveiling.
The cost of the two signs ($2,400) was raised over a two-day period,
according to Sedalia Mayor Stephen J. Galliher, who spoke at the brief
unveiling ceremony. Scott Joplin Festival Board Member Kathleen Boswell
explained that the bulk of the money came from two donors — Larry Karp
and David Almquist. Larry Karp was an author who has written about the
life of Joplin, and David Almquist is Nevin Almquist’s brother. Nevin
also serves on the Joplin board.Karp, who wrote The Ragtime Kid: A Ragtime Mystery, died Oct. 21.
Mayor Galliher noted that Sedalia has been home to a lot of famous
people. “Sedalia’s a place to be proud of, and I’m very proud of the
folks who live here, because they always step up the plate when
something’s needed, they’re there,” Galliher said. “It’s a great place
to live.”
Galliher went on to explain the story behind the signs to KSIS. “It’s
been several months since Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff, District
153) came by my office and was talking about the Leroy Van Dyke Highway
(proposal), because he’s a country music fan, and he asked me if I would
support that, and I said well sure. and then I asked him about Scott
Joplin,” Galliher recalled. “So he went back, wrote a piece of
legislation, and then we went and testified on it at a hearing (in Jeff
City) and the bill passed and we’re here today because of that.”
The Mayor also credited Rep. Nathan Beard for his co-sponsorship of
the bill. “He was a big part of it,” he said, “without those two, it
wouldn’t be possible.” The VanDyke sign project is about $1,000 short at
this point, he added. “We’ll get a little more money raised an we’ll
have a ceremony for them.”
Ragtime festival regular performer Jeff Barnhart and his wife Ann
attended the ceremony and reception. He played an impromptu number on
the piano in the Liberty Center lobby, entertaining those in attendance
with “Maple Leaf Rag.” Later, he seemed extremely pleased by the
exposure the signs will bring to Joplin’s legacy.